Cr Mark Hamilton, who said he did not like using the council’s resources, was the only elected member not to have a council-funded mobile phone.

Councillors Anthony Williamson and Megan Hender had council-funded mobile phones but paid their own bills because they did not want the cost passed on to ratepayers.

Cr Moran admitted her bill was excessive, but said she had been hounding Mr Smith for a better mobile phone plan.

“It’s all council stuff so I’m not ripping anybody off,” Cr Moran said.

“It’s just that I’m doing a s**tload of work and come to think of it, it’s not really good to have low mobile phone use on council work.”

Mr Smith said councillors were encouraged to use Wi-Fi networks.

“A mobile telephone is just one of the ways council assists its members to connect with the community they represent,” Mr Smith said.

Mr Yarwood said councillors needed to be accessible to the community.

“I would have probably done well over 2000 media interviews in the last three years and I have done my best to be available to the media and residents and that does involve using a phone,” Mr Yarwood said.

“It is beholden on us as elected members to be accessible.”

Last year, Mr Yarwood incurred a $20,000 bill for his iPad by accidentally leaving international roaming on while in Taiwan.

Telstra reduced the bill and he paid an undisclosed amount out of his own pocket.